burning oil

[hightower]

Hi. It's evident I'm using oil. Maybe needing to top up every thousand or so miles. By top up I mean the light comes on when going up an incline so it's not totally empty but needing some more at least.

Just checked plugs and they all look clean and unworn so doesn't look like oil getting in. Someone suggested using thicker oil. Can anybody advise on this. Last oil used was motul semi 5000 10w40.

Bike is 2000 plate with about 30k miles

[limax2]

I would definitly not use thicker oil than that recommended.
Are you checking the oil level through the site glass just above the sump on the right hand side. With the bike level and held vertical?
I believe the light can flash on at times due to oil swishing about under hard acceleration or on a steep incline, although I have never seen this myself on my bikes.

[darrsi]

These bikes use semi 10w/40 over here, it's designed for our climate which obviously varies quite a bit, don't go messing about with that because you could cause other issues.
Some people have said before that their light has come on whilst accelerating hard or on an incline, i don't think it's too much to worry about.
If it comes on sitting still on level ground then you can start worrying.
Normal oil levels should be about two thirds up between the oil window markings.

[tweetytek]

My light never comes on and I change oil every 4K although I think Yam increased this to 8K around 2000/1 ? same engines anyway. Perhaps my oil bulb is focd  - hang on, no it isn't because it comes on with ignition key. Doesn't sound right that you're going through oil to require a top up every 1k although I'm no expert on this model , I've not heard of that since the 1950's !

[fazersharp]

Yep I had a light on hard accelerating issue a while back, the level was where it was supposed to be so I poped in an extra 50ml which cured it, this was after about 500 miles after new oil and filter, I must of changed the oil about 5 times in the past and always used castrol act-evo but this time the oil was hein gerrik so im pointing my finger at the oil being slightly different I know it shouldnt be but the fill level has always been the same yet with the hein oil I had to pop a bit more in.
Yes I know 50ml is only about the size of an egg cup but that was the difference between tripping the light and not 

[unfazed]

If there are no leaks, it is most likely you are not putting enough oil in in the first place, it should be up level with the top mark in the site glass.
Put the bike on the centre stand on a level surface and check it when cold to be absolutely sure of the correct level.

No doubt there will be lots of questions comments as to  COLD

[darrsi]

My light never comes on and I change oil every 4K although I think Yam increased this to 8K around 2000/1 ? same engines anyway. Perhaps my oil bulb is focd  - hang on, no it isn't because it comes on with ignition key. Doesn't sound right that you're going through oil to require a top up every 1k although I'm no expert on this model , I've not heard of that since the 1950's !

No, it was 6000 miles, from 4000.

[darrsi]

I never need to top up at all.
Oil doesn't get touched between oil changes. 

[tweetytek]

Darrsi, what's 2000 miles between friends. Jeez 

[darrsi]

Darrsi, what's 2000 miles between friends. Jeez 

The same as riding to Cairo. 

[tweetytek]

 

[Paul]

Mine uses oil.


It empties the sight glass window in about a 1000 miles.


But it's high mileage (78,000 miles)

[unfazed]

Mine uses oil.

It empties the sight glass window in about a 1000 miles.

But it's high mileage (78,000 miles)

Must be a 3 stroke.

Mine take about 300ml in 4000 miles and it had 84000 miles on it.

[Paul]

To Unfazed

It's used approx 900ml in the last 6000 miles.
But it doesn't smoke, not even when you start it up first time.

First noticed it last year when the oil light came on.

Do you know what causes it (whether its rings or valve guides or both)?

[Earache]

I never need to top up at all.
Oil doesn't get touched between oil changes. 

Same here, i do 10.000km (6000 miles) between oil changes and never seen the oil light come on while engine running. The bike has done 25.000 miles(40.000 km) without any issues.
I user Castrol Power 1 GPS 10w-40 and Hi-flo filters.

[unfazed]

To Unfazed

It's used approx 900ml in the last 6000 miles.
But it doesn't smoke, not even when you start it up first time.

First noticed it last year when the oil light came on.

Do you know what causes it (whether its rings or valve guides or both)?

Mine  flicker the oil light occasionally in the last 20000 miles.  I change the oil every 4000 miles and a hi Flow filter every 8000, and is does not smoke either.
I would expect any bike ridden to the max of its rev range to burn some oil as it could be forced past the rings and when mine is used at 10 to 12000 rev range for long periods that the oil level drops. In normal everyday use it only moves slightly from the full mark maybe 100ml between changes.

Last time I had something that had worn guides there was an associated drop in power, if there is no drop off in power I would be thinking more in the way of valve seals.

Remember that 900ml in 6000 miles which is 150ml per 1000miles and is well the within acceptable levels of 500ml per 1000 miles.

Even though Yamaha increased the recommended oil change mileage on the foxeyes, I kept to the original specifications as there was no engine enhancements to warrant it and I was still using the same Oil (Silkolene  10w/40 semi synthetic) as I was when I had the boxeye.

You appear to be changing the oil every 6000 miles.

Is the drop in oil even between the oil change or is the most drop in the last 2000 miles?

If it is in the last 2000 miles I would change the oil every 4000 as it seems like, when the oil is getting thin it is getting past the rings which at this mileage would have a definite amount of wear on the rings and bores.

I have noticed that the oil light comes on when it drops by 150ml below the mark on the sight glass, making it very sensitive, but I for one is glad it is an oil level light and would love on in my car since it drops a litre in 2500 miles.

In reply to Earache: I certainly would not expect it to have any significant drop in a 25000mile Fazer Engine

[Fazerider]

It may not be burning the oil. The seal on the gear shift gets worn and can allow a bit of seepage, it escapes into the front sprocket area which is already well coated with whatever you use to lubricate the chain. 

[Paul]

To Unfazed /Fazerider


I use the bike in summer mainly for pleasure riding, but occasionally for work.
I change the oil once a year, which is about every 5000 miles.
I use fully synthetic oil.
I haven't noticed a loss of power, although I've had the bike from new (2001) so if the loss of power is very gradual I probably wouldn't notice it.


However what I have noticed (thank you fazerider) is dirty oil around the sump plug area, so the gear shift oil seal may well be leaking.
Which to be fair is not unreasonable after 78,000 miles.